Around EUR 1m will be available as part of the new instrument, which offers reimbursement of up to a quarter of eligible costs of filming or production spent in Slovenia.

The Slovenian film centre published the call for applications in March and it will be open until 15 September, or until the earmarked funds are distributed. The reimbursements will be paid out as of 2018.

Applications must be submitted at least 45 days before the start of filming in Slovenia, or production in the case of animated films.

The STO sees the measure as an "important step towards even more effective presentation of Slovenia as an attractive and increasingly desirable destination for the global film industry".

Moreover, increasing the popularity of a destination for filming also makes it more attractive for film buffs from around the world, as the extent of film-related tourism has increased substantially on the global level in the recent years.

Reimbursements for film makers are already used in a number of countries, including Slovenia's southern neighbour Croatia, and have positive economic, financial and promotional effects in the long term, according to the national tourist board.

The STO and the Slovenian Film Centre will also launch the publication titled Filming in Slovenia, an English-language guide to the reimbursement instrument and the competitive advantages of filming in Slovenia, from appropriate locations to an extensive list of Slovenian film and audiovisual producers.

Slovenia is not completely new in the international filming industry. One of the biggest projects in Slovenia was filming a scene for the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian in the valley of the Soča River, while Slovenia is also popular among Bollywood film makers.